SEVEN SPRINGS — Nestled along the banks of the Neuse River, Wayne County’s oldest town is steeped in history — a history that will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13, during the town’s annual Ole Timey Day.
And Mayor Ronda Hughes is inviting the public to visit and enjoy a great day on the town’s Main Street.
“This is our 21st, I think, that we have actually held,” Hughes said. “We’ve had some years where we didn’t have any so we didn’t count them, but this is our 21st Ole Timey Day since we started counting them.
“I think it’s been going on longer than that because when I was a teenager we had some kind of festival, and I’m older than 27.”
A highlight of the day will be the presentation of the Gladys Potter Award.
The award is presented to someone who is an outstanding member of the community and who has helped contribute to things going on in Seven Springs, Hughes explained.
The award is named in memory of the late Gladys Potter, who was a community leader.
The day will be dedicated to someone as well.
“We have some special recognition that we’re going to do for some groups and stuff that’s really helped doing things in Seven Springs this year,” Hughes said.
Also to be honored will be a local World War II veteran who will be announced at the festival.
“We are, of course, going to have food vendors and the town’s going to be selling barbecue and hot dogs out of Mae’s Restaurant,” Hughes added. “We sell them out on the curbside.
“We’re going to have a donation jar for people to contribute for our our fireworks demonstration on July 1.”
The cost is a way for the town to recoup some money for the next year, Hughes explained.
“That’s the only thing that the town sells is the barbecue and the hot dogs,” she said. “We’ve got X amount of money that we have to collect still so we’re asking people for any kind of donation because that (July 1 event) is free to everybody, the meal and everything is free.
“So if people help contribute, then we’ll have a successful one (fireworks display) again this year. We don’t charge much for our vendors (at Ole Timey Day). We have other food vendors. We have the Pelican snowballs. We have all kinds of stuff, apple fritters, homemade goodies. You just name it, and we are going to have it.”
Other activities Saturday will include magic shows, face painting, antique tractors and cars, pedal car races for children, free pony rides and barrel train rides.
There will be live entertainment in two different locations.
Church and other groups will be set up to provide information.
“We’re got an Ole Timey Day court — 14 girls are going to be crowned,” Hughes said. “There will be just a little bit of everything — you know your festival stuff.
“We’ve got the smokehouse that used to come out with Wayne County (firefighters). The Fire District used to have a smokehouse and they’re going to be there, it’s an inflatable now. So they will be there with the inflatable. Smokey the Bear will be there.”
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office will have an equipment display.
The Colgate Van will be set up, too.
“They’ll do free dental screenings for children and teach them about preventive stuff, and I think giving away like toothbrushes and things like that,” Hughes said. “We just got a lot of stuff going on.
“Those are some of the things we got going on. It’s free except what you pay to eat or any kind of arts and crafts.”
If anybody is still interested in being a vendor, it is not too late to call Hughes at 919-222-9290 or town hall at 252-569-5241.
